City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Stanwood, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Stanwood - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

8,351
Residents
$87,477
Median income
$547,400
Median home
$1,671
Median rent (state)

Stanwood - the verdict

Nationally, Stanwood sits in the 69th percentile for household income and the 60th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

69th
percentile, household income
87th
percentile, home value
66th
percentile, median rent
60th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Stanwood, WA

8,351 people live in Stanwood, Washington - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Stanwood households earn a median of $87,477 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.1%. Home values in Stanwood run a median of $547,400, and the median resident age is 36.0 years. 22.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 149 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Growing), up 12% from five years earlier. Stanwood reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1088.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,671 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Washington's average monthly utility costs around $188 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 78.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

8,351 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$87,477 /yr

Poverty 1.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Stanwood compare to other US cities?

Where Stanwood sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 69% higher than other cities
Home value 87% pricier than other cities
Median rent 66% pricier than other cities
Safety 60% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Washington and the picture shifts: Stanwood ranks #39 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Stanwood against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Washington only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Washington-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Stanwood toward the bottom of Washington's cities

Among the 598 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Stanwood ranks #469 - the 21st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Stanwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#263 of 565
53rd percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#303 of 599
45th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#168 of 565
70th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#469 of 598
21st percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#360 of 599
39th percentile in Washington

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Washington only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

69thIncome percentile
60thSafety percentile

69th percentile nationally for median household income · 60th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Stanwood's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Stanwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 51 Avg. percentile National median
Stanwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Stanwood's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$547,400 13th percentile more affordable than 13% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Stanwood $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Stanwood, WA Stanwood, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Stanwood, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Stanwood, WA median $87,477/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Stanwood, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Stanwood, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
8,351
Median Income
$87,477
Median Home Value
$547,400
Median Age
36.0
Poverty Rate
1.1%
Labor force participation
55.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1088.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
105.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
982.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,500 residents8,000 residents8,500 residents9,000 residents9,500 residents10,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,797 residents 9,421 residents ▲ +20.8%
Stanwood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
149
housing units authorized
Single-Family
27
detached homes
Multifamily
122
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
17.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 133
2020 301
2021 183
2022 105
2023 64
2024 149

Permit volume increased 12% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.8%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
8.9%

Based on 3,306 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Stanwood sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,671/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
78.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Selah
8,301 people
Duvall
8,279 people
Barberton
8,213 people
Ephrata
8,493 people
Sequim
8,130 people
Midland
8,676 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Stanwood's 8,351 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Austell, GA
8,351 people
Hampshire, IL
8,351 people
Eaton, OH
8,353 people
Scott, LA
8,348 people
Upper Saddle River, NJ
8,354 people
Parkville, PA
8,354 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Stanwood's $87,477 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Moreno Valley, CA
$87,477 median income
Keansburg, NJ
$87,484 median income
Forked River, NJ
$87,455 median income
Le Roy, IL
$87,500 median income
Reynolds, IL
$87,500 median income
Nichols, IA
$87,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Stanwood, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Stanwood, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.0% White 84.1% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.8% American Indian 3.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.8% Two or more races 5.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Stanwood compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Stanwood (this city) 8,351 $87,477
Selah 8,301 $74,757
Duvall 8,279 $178,821
Barberton 8,213 $121,524
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Stanwood, WA?

What is the population of Stanwood, WA? +

The population of Stanwood, WA stands at 8,351 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Stanwood, WA? +

Median annual household income in Stanwood runs $87,477, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Stanwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Stanwood; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

Is Stanwood, WA safe? +

Stanwood has a total crime rate of 1088.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Stanwood, WA? +

Homes in Stanwood carry a median value of $547,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.